Landline-supported private base station for collecting data and switchable into a cellular network

ABSTRACT

A data collection method, system and private base station collects data from at least one data generator positioned within a premises and forwards the data to a private base station along a communication channel. Communication is first attempted with a landline telephone network. If this is unsuccessful, a call containing the data is forwarded through a wireless cellular phone network to a desired destination such as a monitoring service.

This patent application is related to commonly assigned, co-pending U.Spatent application Ser. No. 08/671,745 filed by the same inventors onJun. 28, 1996, and entitled, Telephone System Having LandLine-SupportedPrivate Base Station And Switchable Into A Cellular Network, thedisclosure which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a private base station that collectsdata from data generators contained in a premises for later transmissionthrough a telephone network to a desired destination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern cellular telephone systems currently use high power, frequency,time and/or code division multiplexed narrowband radio frequencycommunication techniques in conjunction with large cells to establishand maintain telephone communications. With the growing popularity ofmobile stations configured for operating in these systems, increasedflexibility in use of these mobile stations is desired. One approach toproviding user flexibility while encouraging greater utilization of themobile stations is by providing low-power private base stations overwhich a user can register his or her mobile station and make and receivetelephone calls. A private base station shares the same frequency bandswith large cells, but operates at a greatly reduced power level. Also,each private base station has a landline subscriber telephone numberthrough which all incoming and outgoing calls are routed.

In commonly assigned, copending patent application filed on Jun. 28,1996 by the same inventors, and entitled TELEPHONE SYSTEM HAVINGLANDLINE-SUPPORTED PRIVATE BASE STATION SWITCHABLE INTO CELLULARNETWORK, a private base station receives a registration signal from amobile station and enables communication of the mobile station with alandline telephone network through the private base station.Predetermined signalling codes are received from a registered mobilestation and the private base station switches communication of theprivate base station into the wireless cellular phone network. Theprivate base station is contained typically in a residence or smallbusiness, and thus bypasses the local switch and allows signalling inthe cellular network such as commonly occurs in the public-switchedtelephone network.

Many of these private base stations are contained in residences or smallbusinesses. It would be advantageous if a private base station could beused for other purposes besides enabling mobile communication within apremises. The private base station allows communication with both thelandline and cellular phone network and can be modified for other uses.It would be advantageous if data such as collected from water coolers,heaters, air conditioners and other portions of the premises could bemeasured or sensed and any data forwarded through a telephone network toa desired destination.

Some prior art systems use different means for collecting data fromappliances in a premises and forwarding the data over telephone lines.Examples of such systems include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,503,061 to Bray et al., issued Mar. 24, 1970; U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,728to Swanson, issued Jan. 27, 1987; U.S. Pat No. 4,682,169 to Swansonissued Jul. 21, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,332 to Brown, issued Jan. 9,1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,182 to Merriam et al., issued Nov. 3, 1992;U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,575 to White et al., issued Aug. 24, 1993; U.S. Pat.No. 5,311,581 to Merriam et al., issued May 10, 1994; U.S. Pat. No.5,369,691 to Cain et al., issued Nov. 29, 1994.

None of these references, however, teach the use of a private basestation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a private base stationcollects data from data generators positioned in a premises and forwardsthe collected data through a telephone is network to a desireddestination. The private base station enables communication with alandline telephone network and can switch communication into a wirelesscellular phone network. In one aspect of the present invention, at leastone data generator is positioned in the premises for collecting datafrom the premises. This data could include temperature readings, energyusage from an air conditioner or other data that can be determinedwithin a premises. The private base station receives the generated dataover a communication channel such as a digital control channel. Theprivate base station first attempts to generate a call through thelandline telephone network for transmitting the collected data to apredetermined destination, such as a Home Care Service or similarmonitoring service that collects the data for billing purposes, securityor other reasons. When a landline connection is not established, thenthe private base station switches communication into the wirelesscellular phone network and forwards the collected data to a desireddestination. In one aspect of the present invention, the data generatortransmits the data to the private base station along a digital controlchannel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention and its mode of operation will be more clearly understoodfrom the following detailed description when read with the appendeddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a cellular switching system,its logical entities as well as the relative connection with the publicswitched telephone network, a private base station contained in aresidential premises, and data generators in communication with theprivate base station;

FIG. 2 shows a high level block diagram of a private base stationseparated into identifiable circuit sections and a data generatorcommunicating with the private base station through a digital controlchannel;

FIG. 3 shows a high level flow chart depicting one example of theinvention in operation;

FIG. 4 shows a high level block diagram of a private base stationvisiting location register separated into identifiable circuit sections;

FIG. 5 shows a registration/network update process through which amobile station gains access to a private base station, in accordancewith the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a network cancellation process which details how aregistration of a mobile station with a private base station iscanceled, in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 7 shows a network process which provides an incoming calltransaction flow for a mobile station with a private base station, inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a high level block diagram of the method used when theprivate base station switches to the wireless cellular telephonenetwork;

Throughout the drawings, the same element when shown in more that onefigure is designated by the same reference numeral.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a simplified block diagram of acellular switching system forming part of a wireless cellular phonenetwork illustrated generally at 9, its logical entities as well as therelative connection with the public switched telephone network and aprivate base station, and a premises 20 a having data generators 20 bthat collect data from appliances or other premises functions andgenerates the data back to the private base station 20. The cellularconcept is well known and is described in general in the Bell SystemTechnical Journal, Volume 58, Number 1, January 1979, and specificallyin an article entitled The Cellular Concept by V. H. MacDonald, on pages15 through 41 of this journal, the disclosure which is herebyincorporated by reference.

Included within the cellular switching system are mobile stations (MS)10 mobile switching center (MSC) 12, the public telephone switchednetwork (PSTN) 14, a cellular base station (BCS) 13, a home locationregister (HLR) 15, a visiting location register (VLR) 16, a private basestation visiting location register (P-VLR) 30, and a private basestation (PBS) 20. A subscriber station telephone set 19 isillustratively shown connected to the public telephone switched network14 in a well known manner. In this particular example, the private basestation is illustrated as part of a residential premises 20 a, shownwith the dotted lines. A mobile station 10 is shown contained in theresidential premises.

For clarity, mobile switching center 12 is illustratively shownconnected to mobile switching center 18 and network operation controller(NOC) 17. The mobile switching center 18 is part of the overall cellularsystems operation and may similarly have a home location register, avisiting location register, a P-VLR, as well as multiple cellular basestations associated therewith. It is understood that other mobileswitching centers also may be part of the cellular system. The networkoperation controller provides overall control and thereby ensures thatthe operation of the whole cellular system is supported and serviced.

The mobile station 10 and base station 20 are designed to operate in acellular system in accordance with the Telecommunications IndustryAssociation (TIA) Interim Standard (IS)-136, dated December 1994.

The mobile switching center 12 performs all the switching functionsrelated to call delivery and is interconnected to the public telephoneswitched network 14, the home location register 15, the visitinglocation register 16 and the cellular base station 13.

The home location register 15 maintains a data base, profile record andcall routing information or a pointer to the call routing informationfor all mobile stations in a particular assigned home area. The visitinglocation register 16 maintains a data base for call routing informationor a pointer to the call routing information for those mobile stationswhich are visiting its assigned area of coverage.

The private base station visiting location register 30 performs theinterface functions between a private base station, such as station 20,and both the home location register 15 and the visiting locationregister 16 for holding both call routing information and, order orregistered position information for the mobile stations that arecurrently registered with the private base station. The private basestation visiting location register 30 is also responsible foradministering spectrum utilization and operations of the private basestation 20.

The functions for the private base station visiting location register 30may be conveniently summarized as follows:

1. Authorize new private base station operation.

2. Download private base station operating parameters and performsoperation administration.

3. Authenticate all calls received from private base station.

4. Perform Registration Notification task to HLR/VLR when network updateis received from private base station.

5. Perform mobile station inactive task to HLR/VLR when networkcancellation is received from private base station.

The private base station 20 qualifies for private (or non-public) modetime-division-multiple-access (TDMA) cellular operation under IS-136cellular radio interface, which permits a cellular mobile station toregister with a private base station to receive or originate callsthrough a landline connected to the public telephone switched networkinstead of through a cellular base station, such as cellular basestation 13, connected in the regular public cellular system.Specifically, this radio interface provides the digital control channelin accordance with TIA-IS-136.1 and the traffic channels and controlchannel in accordance with TIA IS-136.2 for communication with themobile station. A modem interface between the private base station andthe private base station visiting location register also is supported bythe radio interface.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a monitoring service 50 is connected to thepublic switched telephone network 14. The monitoring service 50 receivesthe collected data from the private base station 20 and calculates anybills or maintains records of the operation of any appliances or othermonitored devices from which data is collected.

The Monitoring service 50 could include a service for monitoring waterflow, appliance use, power usage, or any similar functions. Any abnormalchange in measured data could indicate an emergency or other conditionthat should be investigated. An example of one type of monitoringservice that can be used with the present invention is the AT&T HomeCare Services. Data can be generated to this service 50 in real time,allowing continual monitoring of important household or other functions.As will be described later, if a landline connection is cut so thatimportant monitoring ceases, the private base station can switch intothe cellular network, generating a call through the cellular network,though the private base station and to the monitoring service.

As shown in FIG. 1, the residence 20 a includes an air conditioner 52and heater 54 that are connected to data generators 20 b, each connectedto a mobile unit 58. In the illustrated drawing of FIG. 1, the mobileunit sends a similar signal as a cellular mobile unit to the privatebase station 20 using a communication channel 60 and a digital controlchannel 62. Data is collected from data generators 20 a and can betransmitted over the digital control channel 62 to the private basestation 20, which can forward the data through a digital control channel64 to the cellular network. The call is then switched through the publicswitched telephone network 14 to the monitoring service 50. As opposedto the digital control channel 64, a communication channel 66 carriesstandard communication. Additionally, before establishing cellularcommunication, the base station can send data over a landline using astandard line 70. The control channel could be a subcarrier of thenormal telephone frequency. The type of private base station used willdictate whether a control channel can be used. The private base stationalso can include a disc drive or other storage medium (72 in FIG.2) thatcan act as a data collector and store the generated data for future orreal time delivery. Naturally, any data collector known by those skilledin the act can be used in the present invention.

After the generated data is received, the private base station initiallytries to connect via a landline to the public switched telephone network14. If a connection is made, the data is preferably forwarded via thelandline through the public switched telephone network to the monitoringservice 50. If a landline connection is not established, the privatebase station 20 can switch (reverse) and make a call via the cellularcircuitry 100 (FIG. 2) to the wireless cellular phone network 9, whichswitches the call into the public switched telephone network 14 and tothe monitoring service. The system is advantageous because in somecircumstances the digital control channel 64 can use time divisionmultiplexing so that the private base station 20 can also be used with amobile phone, while data is generated to the monitoring service 50.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a high level chartillustrating one example of a method that can be used for presentinvention. For purposes of clarity, the reference numerals beginning inthe 200 series are used.

A data generator first measures data and information from an appliancelocated in a residence (Block 200). This data is then generated to themobile unit (Block 202), which then transmits the data along a digitalcontrol channel to the private base station (Block 204). The privatebase station then generates a call to the public switched telephonenetwork (Block 206). If a landline connection is made (Block 208), thecall is then switched to the monitoring service (Block 210).

If the landline connection cannot be established, the private basestation then switches into its cellular circuit 100 (Block 212) and acall is generated through the wireless cellular phone network (Block214) into the public switched telephone network (Block 216) to themonitoring service (Block 218). A call from the private base station tothe wireless cellular phone network can transmit data over the digitalcontrol channel, which can use time division multiplexing.

The private base station 20 is limited to a very low level oftransmitted power of restricting its coverage range to a relative smallarea. This allows the private base station to reuse the same radiofrequency spectrum used by the macro cellular systems as long as thefrequency of use selected by the private base station is different fromthe cell for the regular public or macro cellular system in whose areaof coverage the private base station is located. The operating frequencyspectrum for the private base station is selected in a way that insuresno interference to the macro cellular system. This is achieved bydirecting the private base station to perform channel scanning andinterference measurements before selecting its operating frequencies.While operating in its normal mode awaiting receipt of an incoming callor an off-hook request from a registered mobile station, the privatebase station 20 continually broadcasts digital control channelinformation containing its identity and system parameters.

An IS-136 compliant mobile station can search for a private basestation's control channel transmission using a number of techniques. Oneof these may be based on the mobile station's prior knowledge of theprivate base station's existence. Another may be in response to a mobilestation user manually directing the mobile station to search for theprivate base station. In yet another technique the mobile station, uponfinding the control channel of the private base station, automaticallygoes through a series of controlled procedures to obtain registrationwith the private base station.

Once a mobile station, for example, station 10 or 11, obtains asuccessful registration with the private base station 20, the privatebase station 20 makes a modem connection to the private base stationvisiting location register 30 to update the mobile station's temporaryline dialing number (TLDN). The temporary line dialing number in thiscase will be the private base station's landline number (LLN). Hence,when an incoming call is directed to a particular mobile station,information including the temporary line dialing number for this mobilestation is accessed from the private base station visiting locatingregister 30 through the home location register 15 or the visitinglocation register 16 and the call routed to the private base station'sLLN. It is also understood that the temporary line dialing number may bestored in either the home location register 15 or the visiting locationregister 16, and the mobile switching center 12 then accesses this TLDNfrom this register. The private base station 20 detects the ring for anincoming call and sends an alerting signal or page to the registeredmobile station. Following the mobile station's response to the alertingsignal, private base station 20 establishes a traffic channel for themobile station and generates an off-hook condition to connect theincoming call through the private base station to the mobile station.

The private base station 20 supports the registering of multiple mobilestations and, in accordance with the disclosed embodiment, provides apersonalized call delivery feature for each registered mobile station.In order to provide the personalized call delivery feature, during theTLDN update for the mobile station at the private base station visitinglocation register 30, additional information elements, i.e., digits, areadded to the TLDN update for distinguishing a particular mobile stationwith the private base station 20. During the registration of a mobilestation with the private base station, a local unique address isgenerated at the private base station. This local unique address may beeither advantageously generated from the mobile station identificationnumber contained in each mobile station or generated from an orderedposition assigned by the private base station for each portable stationregistered with the private base station.

Thus by way of illustrative example of the operation of the orderedposition registration, the mobile station that registers with theprivate base station 20 is inserted in registered position 1 by theprivate base station visiting location register 30, and the secondmobile station is inserted in registered position 2 by the private basestation visiting location register 30 and so forth. This orderedposition information is advantageously treated as the local uniqueaddress or a sub-address by the private base station 20 for each mobilestation registered with it. A distinct identity of binary digits foreach mobile station distinguishing it from all other mobile stationsregistered with private base station 20 is obtained thereby.

The private base station receives the binary digits describing the orderof registered position in the same manner as caller-ID delivery isachieved. The ordered position information is appended to the caller-IDmessage that accompanies an incoming ring signal or is appended to thetime slot allocated for the caller-ID message when such message is notpresent. Switching offices that provide caller ID messages to atelephone station capable of decoding and storing the incoming telephonenumber are either shown or described in U.S. Pat. 4,277,649 which issuedto D. Sheinbein on Jul. 7, 1981.

Knowing the order of registered position, the private base station alongwith the help of a mobile station user's profile stored in the privatebase station can support additional features like

1. Caller name display on the phone;

2. distinctive alerting;

3. Call blocking;

4. Incoming call log; and

4. Telephone answering device/message support.

Shown in FIG. 2 is a high-level block diagram of private base station 20separated into identifiable circuit sections. A radio frequency (RF)circuit 21 performs the radio frequency signal processing. Included inthis circuit is a radio frequency receiver section which receives theradio frequency signal from the mobile stations 10 and 11 and, afterappropriate filtering and down conversion, produces I and Q signal foran RF CODEC 22 which is connected to the RF circuit 21. A radiofrequency transmit section in RF circuit receives the I and Q signalsfrom the RF CODEC 22, converts these signals to the appropriate radiofrequency range and amplifies them for wireless transmission via antenna23.

The RF CODEC 22 performs analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion of the I andQ signals received in the receiver section of the RF circuit 21 anddigital-to-analog (D/A) conversion of the I and Q signals provided tothe transmitter section of the RF circuit 21. The RF CODEC 22 alsoperforms modulation for the transmission path.

Connected to the RF CODEC 22 is a digital signal processor (DSP) 23which performs all the baseband signal processing for the private basestation applications. This involves speech encoding/decoding,time-division-multiple-access framing/deframing, channelencoding/decoding, and other modem functions such as, for example,automatic gain control, symbol timing recovery, synchronization, and thelike. The DSP 23 also communicates with a microcontroller 24 forexchanging control messages. A user CODEC 25 performs conversion ofdigitally sampled speech signals to analog speech signals and alsoperforms conversion of analog speech signals to digitally sampled speechsignals.

Connected to the user CODEC 25 is a switch 25a used in the presentinvention for switching the private base station into communication withthe wireless cellular network 9 for the landline PSTN 14. The switch 25ais connected to a second cellular circuit indicated generally by 100,and in parallel with RF unit 21 and a hybrid and line interface circuitsinterface section 26 which performs the required functions forinterfacing the private base station 20 to the public switched telephonenetwork 14. These include such functions and circuits as, for example,switch-hook operations, hybrid, ring detect, line termination, on/offhook signal interface signals and the like. The microcontroller 24performs the call processing functions between the private base station20 and any registered mobile stations as well as all other controlfunctions that are required for operation of the private base station20. LEDs 27 provide visual feedback to a user who makes entries at theprivate base station. Buttons 28 connect to the microcontroller 24 andare used in making the entries in the private base station 20. Once suchentry, as described later herein, is that made by the primary user ofthe base station who direct this base station to register a mobilestation for the first time.

As shown in FIG. 2, a memory unit 102 is connected to themicrocontroller 24 and stores the calling numbers received from alandline network when a mobile unit is not able to accept a call. Thememory unit 102 also can store emergency numbers, as well as softwarethat can be used by the private base station microcontroller 24. Themicrocontroller 24 is programmed to work in conjunction with the memoryunit 102 so that predefined signaling codes, similar to LASS features ina public network, can be generated by a mobile phone. In accordance withthe present invention, the private base station receives signaling codesfrom the cellular phone to allow signaling functions.

As illustrated, the memory unit connects to the second cellulartransceiver unit indicated by the dashed lines of 100 and, moreparticularly, to a dialer unit 104 that generates the calling number toa radio frequency transceiver unit 106, which connects into an amplifier108 and second antenna 110. The second cellular transceiver unit 100works closely in parallel to the RF unit 21 and is operatively connectedthereto to work on similar frequencies. The second transceiver unit 100allows greater power generation for operation with the cellular network9.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a data generator 20 b is connected to anappliance such as a heater 54 in a premises. The data generator 20 b canbe hardwired to a mobile unit 58, or alternately, the data generator cangenerate infrared or ultrasonic data signals to a mobile unit 58.

The mobile unit 58 in turn can be hardwired to the private base stationor it can generate signals, such as through a digital control channel tothe receiving antenna 23 of the private base station.

Additionally, an emergency button 120, typically located on the privatebase station connects to the microcontroller so that upon depression ofthat emergency button 120, a stored emergency number is dialed and thensent to the cellular network 9.

The amplifier 108 provides the added power for the private base stationto communicate with the cellular network. Additionally, the mobile units10, 11 include emergency buttons 10 a, 11 a that upon their depression,activate the dialer 104 for generating a dialing sequence of emergencynumbers stored within the memory unit 102.

The private base station can be designed so that it can be mobile andused as a cellular unit if an RJ-11 jack is not available for connectingthe unit into the wired public-switch telephone network 14. The privatebase station can be programmed so that any stored emergency number canbe dialed through the wireless cellular phone network upon receiving anemergency signal whether from the pushing of the emergency button on themobile telephone or private base station. Additionally, the storedemergency number can be dialed through the landline.

FIG. 8 illustrates a high level flow chart showing an example of theoperation of the system.

When the mobile station 10 approaches the residential premises 20 acontaining the private base station 20, the mobile telephone 10automatically registers with the private base station (Block 100). Atthe time of registration, a call-forwarding signal is sent from theprivate base station through the landline and to the cellular networkrequesting all cellular phone calls made to mobile station 10 to bedelivered to the private base station via the land-line (Block 202).

During this time, the memory unit 102 stores various Calling PartyNumbers (CPN) (Block 204). The mobile operator then activates a LASSfeature, dialing a service code that is sent to the private basestation, i.e., AUTO CALLBACK - STAR 69 (*69). The private base stationidentifies this service code (Block 208) and retrieves the most recentincoming calling party number (Block 210) and then sends those digits tothe dialer unit 104 connected to the RF unit 106 and amp 108. The switch25a is activated so that the second transceiver unit 100 transmits thedigits over the air interface (Block 212). The network sends thesignaling information (receive digits) to a MSC 12 and then to a servicenode (Block 214). The service mode identifies a feature code andinstructs the network to set up the call if the called party's line isidle (Block 216). If the called party's line is busy, the service nodemay instruct the network to monitor the status of the called party'sline for a definite period of time (Block 218). As soon as this servicenode detects that the called party's line is idle, it instructs thenetwork to set up the call through a normal call set up procedurethrough the wireless network (Block 220).

Additionally, the emergency buttons on either the private base stationor mobile unit can be pushed to generate a signal.

It should be understood that the switching of the private base stationinto the cellular network upon receiving signaling codes will occurpreferably when only one mobile station is registered with the privatebase station. However, the operation does not have to operate only inthis fashion.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, there is shown a general blockdiagram of a private base station visiting location register 30. Thisprivate base station visiting location register 30 may be geographicallylocated away from or co-located with either a visiting location registeror a home location register, with which it receives and provides privatebase station information. Moreover, the functions provided by theprivate base station visiting location register 30 also may beintegrated into a visiting location register or a home locationregister, and such operation is hereby anticipated. The elementsemployed in the private base station register are computer 300, modem330, control interface modules 340, 341 and 342, disk storage unit 343and a plurality of databases 310, 330, 335 and 340.

The input to the private base station register 30 from a private basestation, such as private base station 20, is provided over two-waycommunications lines 331 to the modem pool 330. The communications modempool 330 typically provides data communication between multiple privatebase stations and the private base station visiting location registerthrough the public telephone switched network. In providing thiscommunication, any number of well known protocols that exists in theindustry today may be used. By way of example, modem protocols such asV.22, V.22 bis or Bell 212 are all suitable for communications betweenthe modem pool 330 and a private base station through the publictelephone switched network. It is also possible to have a packet dataprotocol provide the two-way communications requirement. For example, anX.25 packet data protocol may be used in providing this communication.

Also connected to the communications interface module 340 are integratedservices digital network (ISDN) communications lines 332. Although ISDNare shown, other lines may suitably be used in providing thiscommunication, as well. The ISDN lines 332 are connected directly to thecommunications interface module 340 and enable the private base stationvisiting location register 30 to maintain communications between thehome location register 15 and the visiting location register 16.Protocols that may be used in providing this ISDN communication may be,by way of example, either IS-41 or SS7 which are well-known in theindustry.

The data signals received by modem pool 330 over both communicationslines 331 and 332 are provided to a communications interface module 340.The data received by the interface module 340 is couple to theinput/output control module 341 for processing by the computer 300 orfor input to or accessing one or more of a series of databases,illustratively shown as database 310, 330, 335 and 345, as well as adisk storage medium 343, via the peripheral control interface module342. The peripheral control interface module 342 interfaces the computer300 and communications lines to the appropriate ones of the series ofdatabases. or data files in accordance with the service or task beingperformed.

Each one of the series of databases 310, 330, 335 and 345 containspecific information. For example, the database 310 contains informationof frequency allocations of surrounding cellular systems. Database 330contains information of private base stations operating parametersdetermined by the private base station's location. Examples of a privatebase station operating parameters are its operating frequency,transmitted power, authorization time, and the like. Database 335contains mobile station order of registered position information withthe private base station and also private base station profiles.Examples of private base station profiles are “Call Waiting” and “CallerID” that are provided by the public telephone switched network, and alsoany private base station location register 30. It is to be understoodthat other databases providing additional services or tasks also may beinterfaced with the computer 300 via the peripheral control interfacemodule 342.

Disk storage 343 contains operational information that is applicable tothe cellular system in general, such as operation parameters that arerequired for interfacing the private base station visiting locationregister with home location register and visiting location register.

Contained in the computer 300 are a data processor 304, random accessmemory (RAM) 305 and read only memory (ROM) 306. This processor 304responds to data input into input/output control mode 341. And withinput from random access memory 305 and read only memory 306, processor304 also provides the data to the processor bus 301 for facilitatingdata exchanges between the plurality of databases and the communicationsinterface module 340 via the peripheral control interface module 342.

Referring next to FIG. 5, there is shown a registration/network updateprocess though which a mobile station, such as mobile station 10, gainsaccess to a private base station, such as private base station 20. Theprivate base station initially authorizes the mobile station to obtainregistration through it. After such initial authorization, the mobilestation remains on the digital control channel. The private base stationthen seeks authorization for registration of the mobile station from theprivate base station visiting location register. The camping of themobile station on the digital control channel can be terminated by thehost private base station if proper authorization from the private basestation visiting location is not obtained. During the registrationprocess, the home location register 15 or visiting location register 16is provided a call forwarding number from the private base stationvisiting location register (the private base station's LLN) for themobile station.

There are two kinds of registration processes that take place betweenthe mobile station and the private base station. One is the initialregistration of the mobile station with the private base station. Inthis case, the private base station has no prior knowledge of the mobilestation and will not accept its attempt to register unless the primaryuser of the private base station directs the private base station to doso. This acceptance process can be accomplished by the primary userpressing a registration button on the base station and then to preventfraudulent registration, for example, entering a coded sequence ofdigits which only he or she knows. Once a mobile station obtains initialregistration, it can automatically obtain subsequent registration withthe private base station upon its arrival within the private basestation's coverage area. Thus, this subsequent registration does notrequire intervention of the primary user of the private base station inany manner.

The registration process begins when an authorized mobile station sendsa test registration (registration sequence) to the private base station.This registration/network update process is summarized below and alsoillustrated in FIG. 5.

1. The mobile station sends a test registration which includes themobile station's identification (mobile station ID) and the mobilestation's electronic serial number (ESN) to the private base station.

2. The private base station sends back a registration accept signal tothe mobile station.

3. The private base station establishes a modem call to the P-VLR.

4. The private base station performs an authentication task to satisfyP-VLR's requirements.

5. The P-VLR sends and acknowledge or negative acknowledge (ACK/NACK) tothe private base station in response.

6. Receipt of the NACK response cancels further transaction by theprivate base station and the mobile station registration attempt will becanceled. Depending on the situation, the private base station may alsobe directed to shut down and retry registration at some subsequent time.

7. Following receipt of an ACK, the private base station performs anetwork update when the mobile station ID, mobile station ESN, landlinenumber as well as the order of registered position obtained for themobile station are sent to the P-VLR. The order of registered positionuniquely identifies the mobile station among other currently registeredmobile stations within the private base station.

8. The P-VLR sends a Registration Notification to either the HLR or VLR.If the mobile station is in its home cellular coverage area, thenotification will be directed to the HLR. Otherwise, the VLR willreceive the notification. In the later case the HLR for the mobilestation's home area will also be notified of the registrationnotification.

9. The HLR or VLR sends an ACK or NACK to the P-VLR. If an NACK is send,the denial could depend on a number of factors that depend on theservice provider. For example, the provider may find that the mobilestation does not have a valid service with it, or a second example couldbe that the mobile station does not have a valid mobile ID number, or itcould be any other similar reason.

10. The P-VLR sends corresponding ACK or NACK to the private basestation.

11. After receipt by the private base station of the ACK or the NACK,the modem call is terminated.

12. If an NACK is sent to the private base station by the P-VLR, theprivate base station sends a registration cancellation to the mobilestation.

The first mobile station registered with the private base station inthis process is allocated the position location number 1. The subsequentmobile stations registered with the private base station are givencorrespondingly increasing numbers. A private base station are givencorrespondingly increasing numbers. A private base station can typicallysupport, by way of example, 10 such registrations, although more or lessmay be desired and the private base station suitably configured toaccommodate different numbers. If a new mobile station registrationrequest is properly received which exceeds the number then allocated forsupporting registered mobile stations, the least used mobileregistration number will be vacated to make room for the new one. Onceregistered, the mobile station does not need to re-register in thisparticular sense. Whenever the mobile station attempts to obtainsubsequent registration for service with the private base station, theregistration location number for the mobile station remains unchanged,assuming some minimal level of periodic use. During the process ofsubsequent service provision, the private base station always sends tothe private base station visiting location register 30 the sameregistration location number for a particular mobile station. Also, itis understandable that the information exchange for a new mobile stationregistration will be much extensive when compared to its subsequentregistration with the private base station.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a network cancellation processin which a pre-established and existing registration of a mobile stationwith a private base station is canceled or terminated. The networkcancellation process begins when an authorized mobile station moves outof the private base station's coverage area or the mobile station'spower is turned off. When the mobile station moves out of the coveragearea of the private base station, the resulting loss of communicationfrom the mobile station is detected by the private base station. Also,when the mobile station's power is turned off, the mobile stationperforms power-down registration. When either of these two eventsoccurs, the network cancellation process is executed by the private basestation. Through this process, any cal forwarding to the private basestation's land line number for the mobile station is cancelled. Thisnetwork cancellation process is summarized below and also illustrated inFIG. 6.

1. The mobile station performs power-down registration.

2. The private base station establishes a modem call to the P-VLR.

3. The private base station performs an authentication task to satisfythe P-VLR's requirements.

4. The P-VLR sends either an ACK or a NACK in response.

5. If the NACK response is received, the private base station cancelsfurther transactions for this particular mobile station. The privatebase station also may be directed to shut down or to attempt a retrylater at authentication.

6. If an ACK response is received, the private base station performsnetwork cancellation by sending the mobile station ID and the mobilestation ESN to cancel call forwarding of telephone calls to the mobilestation which has either moved out of the coverage area or whose poweris turned off.

7. The P-VLR sends a mobile station inactive signal to HLR/VLR.

8. The HLR/VLR then sends either an ACK or a NACK to the P-VLR.

9. The P-VLR sends a corresponding ACK or NACK to the private basestation.

10. Followed by the sending of the ACK or NACK to the private basestation, the modem call is terminated.

The user of a mobile station may elect to terminate communication with aprivate base station and reenter his or her mobile station into thecellular system. A mobile station may exercise this option, when, forexample, service at the private base station is not available due to thesingle land line connection to the public telephone switched networkbeing occupied by another mobile station communicating through theshared private base station.

A mobile station user may reenter the cellular system simply by, forexample, pressing a cellular service button which executes a processwherein service with the private base station is terminated and servicewith the cellular service provider in the public cellular system isestablished. Once cellular service is established with, for example,cellular base station 13, shown in FIG. 6, a network update is performedby home location register 15 is the mobile station is located in itshome coverage area or by visiting location register 16 if the mobilestation is outside its home coverage area. Next, either home locationregister 15 or visiting location register 16 informs private basestation visiting location register 30 that the identified mobile stationhas returned to the cellular system. The private base station visitinglocation register 30 then stores a mobile station inactive signal forthe identified mobile station effectively inactivating or cancelling itscall forwarding information.

Once the land line between the private base station 20 and the publictelephone switched network 14 becomes available, the networkcancellation process described in FIG. 6 is attempted by the privatebase station. since call forwarding for the identified mobile stationhas already been cancelled int he private base station visiting locationregister 30, in this instance by the mobile station reentering thecellular system, executing this process only confirms that the mobilestation is presently not active with the private base station 20.

Referring next to FIG. 7, there is shown a network process whichprovides an incoming call transaction flow for a mobile stationregistered with a private base station. All incoming calls for each oneof the mobile stations registered with the private base station will berouted to the private base station's landline number. The calltransaction flow is summarized below and with reference to FIG. 7.

1. A call origination and the dialed mobile station ID are received fromthe public switched telephone network and routed to the MSC.Alternatively, the MSC may receive the call origination and the dialedmobile station ID from the cellular base station 13 in the publiccellular system.

2. The MSC sends a route request to the mobile station's HLR (or to theVLR when the mobile station is a visiting station).

3. The HLR forwards the Route Request to the corresponding P-VLR whichcontains the registration information for the mobile station.

4. The P-VLR, returns the TLDN as well as the order of registeredposition to the HLR (or to the VLR when the mobile station is a visitingstation) as part of the routing information. In this case, the order ofregistered position is defined as a sub-address for the mobile station.

5. The HLR adds mobile station ID and mobile station ESN to the routinginformation and returns the location request to the MSC which, in turn,forwards this information to the PSTN.

6. The call is delivered by the PSTN, which may include caller ID, tothe LLN, the sub-address containing order of registered position is alsosent along with the caller ID to the private base station. The privatebase station then sends a page to the mobile station along with thecaller ID. The paged mobile station is the one which corresponds to theorder of registered position.

Based on obtaining an order of registered position for each of themobile stations, the private base station is able to advantageouslyoffer various intelligent features which are personalized according tocustomer needs. For example, a calling party may have his or her namedisplayed on the mobile station for the convenient of the user at themobile station.

The user of a registered mobile station is provided with a separatememory space allocated at the private base station to store a directoryof phone numbers with names respectively associated with the telephonenumbers. Upon receiving an incoming call for a particular mobile station(distinguished by the order of registered position), a calling partyhaving a number that matches with one of the stored numbers in thedirectory will have his or her name sent to the mobile station by theprivate base station for display instead of the telephone phone number.

The private base station is able to provide distinctive alerting for aregistered mobile station. The user of a registered mobile station canhave, for example, a distinctive ringing sound (chosen from a group ofring sounds) associated with a particular calling party stored in his orher directory. Distinctive ringing is illustratively described in U.S.Pat. 4,995,075. When an incoming call is from the particular callingparty, the private base station is able alert the mobile station usingthe distinct ringing sound.

The private base station is also able to provide a number of otheradvantageous functions based on obtaining an order of registeredposition for each of mobile stations. Features such as call blocking, anincoming call log, such as described in U.S. Pat. 5,386,460, and atelephone answering function with personalized mailboxes are easilyprovided. For call blocking, the user has a choice of blocking anincoming call which number matches one of specified numbers stored inthe directory. The incoming call log is advantageously provided in theprivate base station for each of the registered mobile station users.And the private base station allows personalized greetings to be storedin a mailbox for each of the registered mobile stations. When anincoming call is directed to a particular mobile station and the user ofthis station does not respond, this personalized greeting is played tothe calling party by the private base station.

The advantages and beneficial features of the present invention nowallow a private base station to collect data generated from datacollectors positioned in a premises for transmission in real time to amonitoring service. The data can be continually generated andtransmitted via the landline for monitoring important household or otherfunctions. If the landline is cut, the private base station can switch(reverse) and generate a call through the wireless cellular network tothe monitoring service.

What has been described is merely illustrative of the present invention.Other applications to wireless telephones, computers or othercommunication systems other than the disclosed system are contemplatedas being within the knowledge of one skilled in the art and may beutilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A data collection method comprising thesteps of collecting data within a private base station from at least onedata generator positioned within a premises and connected to the privatebase station along a communication channel, the private base stationproviding private mode cellular operation, enabling communication with atelephone network including a landline telephone network and a wirelesscellular phone network when a landline is not available, and forwardingthe data through the telephone network from the private base station toa desired destination by forwarding the data through a landlineconnection from the private base station to the desired destination, orby switching a call containing the data into the cellular phone networkand forwarding the data through the cellular network from the privatebase station to the desired destination when a landline connection isnot enabled, wherein the private base station simultaneously enables thecommunication with the telephone network while forwarding the datathrough the telephone network.
 2. The method according to claim 1including the step of communicating the data from a data generator tothe private base station through a digital control channel.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1 including the step of forwarding the datafrom the private base station to the cellular phone network through adigital control channel.
 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein thepremises is a residential premises and the private base station iscontained within the residential premises.
 5. The method according toclaim 4 including the step of collecting the data from home appliancescontained within the residential premises.
 6. A method of forwardingdata through a telephone network to a desired destination from a privatebase station that collects the data over a communication channel fromdata generators contained within a premises, wherein the private basestation provides private mode cellular operation and switches betweencommunication with a desired destination via a landline andcommunication with the desired destination via a wireless cellular phonenetwork, comprising the step of receiving a call from the private basestation within the wireless cellular phone network for transmitting thedata to the desired destination when a landline connection is notenabled, and wherein the private base station simultaneously enablescommunication with the telephone network while forwarding the datathrough the telephone network.
 7. The method according to claim 6including the step of first attempting to establish a landlineconnection, and receiving the call within the wireless cellular phonenetwork when a landline is not established.
 8. The method according toclaim 6 including the step of receiving the data from the datagenerators to the private base station through a digital controlchannel.
 9. The method according to claim 6 including the step ofreceiving the data from the private base station within the cellularphone network through a digital control channel.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 6 wherein the premises is a residential premises andthe private base station is contained within the residential premises.11. The method according to claim 10 including the step of collectingthe data from home appliances contained within the residential premises.12. A private base station providing private mode cellular operationcomprising an interface for connecting to a landline telephone network,a switch and associated cellular circuitry for switching communicationof the private base station into a wireless cellular phone network, anda data collector within the private base station for collecting datagenerated by data generators contained within a premises for transmittalof the data from the private base station to a desired destinationthrough the landline telephone network or transmittal of the data fromthe private base station to a desired destination through the wirelesscellular phone network, and wherein the private base stationsimultaneously enables communication with a telephone network whileforwarding the data through the telephone network.
 13. A private basestation according to claim 12 including means for collecting thegenerated data through a digital control channel.
 14. A private basestation according to claim 12 include means for transmitting the data toa cellular telephone network through a digital control channel.
 15. Asystem for collecting data and forwarding the data through a telephonenetwork to a desired destination comprising at least one data generatorpositioned within a premises for collecting data from the premises, aprivate base station for receiving the generated data along acommunication channel operatively connected between the data generatorand the private base station, wherein said private base station providesprivate mode cellular operation and includes means for enablingcommunication with a landline telephone system for transmitting thecollected data from the private base station to a predetermineddestination, and wherein the private base station simultaneously enablescommunication with a telephone network while forwarding the data throughthe telephone network, and means for switching communication of theprivate base station into a wireless cellular phone network fortransmitting the collected data from the private base station to thepredetermined destination when a landline connection is not enabled. 16.The system according to claim 15 including a digital control channelextending from the data generators to the private base station overwhich generated data is transmitted.
 17. The system according to claim15 including a digital control channel extending from the private basestation to the cellular telephone network through which the collecteddata is generated.
 18. The system according to claim 15 wherein thepremises is a residential premises and the private base station iscontained within the residential premises.
 19. The system according toclaim 18 wherein the data generators are formed to collect data fromappliances contained within residential premises.